Archive | Entertainment Review RSS feed for this section

Mama and Papa Movie Review: War Horse

17 May

Star Rating: 3 stars

(for Star Rating key: https://madtimemama.wordpress.com/mama-and-papa-movie-reviews/)

Ah, another Spielberg movie. Ok. Here’s our take on it. It was good. It wasn’t the best, but it was a fine movie. Sure it tugs at the heartstrings at certain moments, there are moments of triumph, there is death.. and Loki (from Thor) makes an appearance for two seconds until he dies foolishly and to quote my husband “from being a dumbass.:” This movie also has great musical orchestration. Yay for John Williams. Again. Johnny, we get it. You’re good. You’re real good.

The premise of the story revolves around a horse and his handler. Through the course of the movie, the horse takes a journey through different handlers, war, children and maybe, JUST maybe can make his way home.

To be honest, at times this movie is a little overly dramatic and boring, but the exciting parts and emotional scenes more than make up for it.

Quote from my husband: “It’s a horse people!”

Quote from me: “Honestly, it’s a good movie. I’m just kind of bored writing about it. The horse doesn’t say much.”

Mama and Papa Movie Review: Sarah’s Key

17 May

Star Rating: 4 stars

(for Star Rating key: https://madtimemama.wordpress.com/mama-and-papa-movie-reviews/)

Every once in a while, a movie will come along that you watch and it will stay with you. This is a gem of a movie that haunts you in a way that makes you grateful for everything that you have.  If a movie is successful, it will transport you from your world and have you observe the story on the screen as if you are an additional character in the movie itself.  This movie, Sarah’s Key, does just that – at least for me.  It’s funny, because this is one of those movies where I never saw any commercials, never saw anything about it until I happened to come across it as I was perusing the On Demand portal from my cable service.  I’m so thankful I did.

It stars Kristin Scott-Thomas and some recognizable actors from other movies such as Warhorse.  The preview alone made me curious about the story.  In this day in age, most previews show you the whole movie in the preview (which irritates the shit out of me).  This, however,  was a great preview.  It left the mystery and it gave the idea of the story without giving too much away.  So much so, I had to watch it.

Though this story is fiction, it is based on historical events.  The story revolves around a little girl named Sarah and the round up of Jews on July 16, 1942 in Paris, France.  The French Police were responsible for rounding them up and taking them to a stadium.  However, the French were prompted to follow out these actions by the SS and German Police in occupied France.  The stadium the Jews were taken to had no water, no toilets, no food – nothing.  The conditions were absolutely horrible.  Right as the police knock and enter Sarah’s apartment on this day, Sarah hides her brother, Michel, in a closet and tells him to stay quiet until she returns to get him (thinking she would be back that day- in a few hours- and not understanding what was truly happening).

Simultaneously, Kristin Scott-Thomas plays Julia, a reporter in present day writing an article on the 60th anniversary of the round up.  Her and her family are moving into an apartment.  As the movie unfolds, she discovers the story of Sarah and her brother while writing the article.  Shortly after, she realizes and comes to terms with the fact that the very apartment she is moving into used to be Sarah’s.  Through the course of the movie, we see the evolution of both Sarah and Julia.  We learn about Sarah’s heartache as well as Julia’s.  Julia is determined not to forget Sarah and to tell her story.  What an incredible story it is!

Quote from me:  “My heart aches for all the Sarahs.  She’s not a real person but she is a representation of the heartache these people went through.  Makes me wonder what other untold stories haven’t been discovered.”

Mama and Papa Movie Review! Last night’s showing: The Grey

16 May

Star Rating:  4 stars

(for Star Rating key: https://madtimemama.wordpress.com/mama-and-papa-movie-reviews/)

We have been wanting to see this movie ever since we heard about it.  Really and truly, my husband and I will watch anything with Liam Neeson.  He’s one of our favorites and one of our favorite Jedis!  If you are expecting any kind of quick witted humor or fast talk, this isn’t the movie for you.  If you are down with raw human emotion and action sequences with bad ass wolves, then you will love this movie.

Side note:  Is it just me?  Or ever since Natasha Richardson (Neeson’s wife) died abruptly, Liam Neeson has THROWN himself into work.  I hear he is dating and quite possibly engaged.  Still, (and it may just be me) I sense a bit of sadness in him and detect it in every movie since the death of his wife.  I love you Liam.

Back to the movie.  Neeson’s character, Ottway, is a loner in the Alaska frontier as a wolf killer along a pipeline. From the very beginning, Ottway shows great respect towards the wolves even down to the last battle.  After his plane crashes in the Alaska wilderness, he and the other survivors must work with each other to get back to civilization.   As the wolves defeat the survivors one by one,  we see who the Alpha is and who is the weakest link.   Classic tale of survival of the fittest between humans and wolves.

This movie caused quite a bit of a stir due to the portrayal of the Grey wolves.  Environmental and animal activists got their panties in a wad due to thinking the film depicts wolves in a negative light, specifically at a time when gray wolves had recently been removed from the Endangered Species List in many western American states.  Did these people even watch this movie?   I, for one, LOVE wolves.  They are amazing creatures—the ultimate hunter.   I have to say, after watching the movie, I thought the movie showed great parallels between the human race and the wolves in their natural habitat. Sure, we see wolves hunt and attack the humans in this movie.  Still, it’s not like if we were in the wild, they would be singing Kum-ba-Yah around the campfire with us.  How is this movie depicting them in a negative light?  The humans are in THEIR territory.  What are they supposed to do?  They show great skill as hunters.  Also, I would think this brings great attention to the wolves.   It got me thinking of the wolf sanctuary in West Yellowstone, Montana.  If you ever get a chance to go there, please do. It’s incredible! They also have Grizzly Bears! Click this link:  http://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.com/

Look how awesome the Alpha wolf looks in the film:

Poem from The Grey:

Once more into the fray.

Into the LAST GOOD fight I’ll ever know.

Live and die on this day.

Live and die on this day.

Quote from husband: “In exactly five seconds, I will start beating the shit out of you.”

Quote from me:  “It’s Liam Neeson people.  Do what he says and you’ll live longer.”

Another Mama and Papa Movie Review!! Tonight’s movie: Haywire

6 May

Star Rating:  -3 stars

(for Star Rating key: https://madtimemama.wordpress.com/mama-and-papa-movie-reviews/)

Here’s a movie that um . . . uh . . .

Oh sorry. I started thinking about something else.

WTF is this movie about???  I’d say it’s about an hour and a half too long.

The lead character is Gina Carano as Mallory Kane.  Who did she have to bang to get this part?  Whoever it was, he got screwed, ha.  (ba-dum-dum) Sure, she’s hot.  Having her in this role is almost like asking me to play this part, though.  Poor thing.  She half smiles at the camera all the time, like she can’t help it.  Was there a director in this film?  I mean, sometimes it’s like the “actors” sang 1-2-3-go and the cameras started rolling.  You can tell this gal is just happy to be in a movie.  And who can blame her?  But she is so not an actor.  God bless her.  I’m not hatin’, I’m just sayin’.

Did this movie even have a script?  (I know words like “script”).  The A-listers sounded like they might’ve had a few actual lines to memorize.  But I bet all the rest just made this crap up as they went along.  The fact that the movie had to be told almost entirely in flashbacks is a sure sign of some bad writing, in my opinion.  Flashbacks suck.  A flashback is like saying to the audience:  “Hello, audience.  I’m not able to write these important events in an interesting way as they happen.  So, I’m just going to tell you about them now real quick.  But, hey, don’t let that distract you from what’s really going on, mmkay? Love, The Writer.”

Look at this list of actors:

·  Michael Fassbender as Paul

·  Ewan McGregor as Kenneth

·  Bill Paxton as John Kane

·  Channing Tatum as Aaron

·  Antonio Banderas as Rodrigo

·  Michael Douglas as Coblenz

With a cast like that, you would THINK that this movie would have some sort of redeeming quality about it.  Granted, Antonio Banderas would never know the difference.  Channing Tatum, you suck.  Bill Paxton … eh, Bill Paxton’s had some good movies, right?  At least that pedo-stache makes us forget about all the stinkers.  But Ewan McGregor!  You are the surprising piece to my puzzle.  I’ve respected your ability to commit to a role many times!  But bro, honestly, what were you thinking?  You’re too young to stop caring.  Come back to us!  Michael Douglas, we’ll forgive you this time.  You gave us Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile and you beat cancer.  Michael Fassbender . . . the jury’s still out on you buddy, but my husband said you fight like a girl.  And your robot trailer for Prometheus gave me goosebumps.

And for a movie like this, there’s not even enough action scenes to get me through it.  The camera pulled back and set the stage to let us know someone was about to throw down every time.  Why did I feel like I was watching wrestling? Not the real deal but fake wrestling a la Hulk Hogan. That girl gets the crap beat out of her and doesn’t even act like it hurts.

A quote from my husband: “I’d do her.”

A quote from me:   “Yea, me too.”

Mama and Papa’s first movie review! Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol = Movie Vomit

22 Apr

Star Rating:    NO STARS.

(for Star Rating key: https://madtimemama.wordpress.com/mama-and-papa-movie-reviews/)

My husband and I are huge Mission Impossible fans. We’ve enjoyed most of the franchise.  Most of the time with these movies, if there are holes, I can usually forgive them.  But this time . . . THAT is the impossible mission.

This movie is so slow and full of holes it can barely stay afloat. Even the beginning feels forced and fake, like they’re re-enacting something that worked one time before, trying to recreate that success. The movie moves at a snail’s pace that is hard to watch because it drags on and on and on.  Also, with the slow pace, it’s hard to get attached to the characters.  Simon Pegg is just about the only saving grace in this film.  And every five minutes the characters all sit down to “fill us in” on stuff that has already happened, or in some cases stuff that JUST happened.  It’s like the script went through so many hands and rewrites the only thing they ended up with was a patchwork group of scenes that had to be pasted together by having the actors give us an exposition after every action sequence, just to keep the “story” moving.

Now, about that story . . .

1)   Storyline was one dimensional.  Did the bad guy ever really say anything? (Which is too bad because he was pretty darn awesome in the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo — Swedish Version)  We only know anything about him or his threat due to –you guessed it—what the other actors sat down and told us about him.

2)   Too much of the story is just told (with terrible acting) without actually being shown.

3)   Light stick + river = one of the dumbest things ever in any movie, ever.  Ever.

4)   Established threat, complicated mission, fast moving sequences = Mission Impossible formula for success …  you will find none of that here.

5)   The climbing the tallest building in the world stunt was a great idea—however, little Tommy is making an awful lot of ruckus on the windows.  It’s a hotel right?  Or a least a very busy building… so if he is climbing up 10 stories on the outside on the windows themselves, wouldn’t someone see him and be curious as to why this petite man is climbing the building?

6)   Sandstorm fail.  Cheap way to film the chase scene in L. A. without having to film it in Dubai.  Lame.

7)   There’s a limited number of cool gadgets (that number is pretty close to zero) in this film.

8)   His wife is dead.  No, she’s not.  Wait, maybe she is.  Oh look, there she is.  Hi! The End. Dumb.

9)   The Mission Impossible theme song is hardly played. Only hints at the main riff during movie if at all – making it feel like some kind of random “lets see Tom Cruise run – a lot – and then say cheesy lines …..

With a fist in the air, Ethan grabs the briefcase controlling the nuclear missile and manages to slam his fist down on the briefcase stopping the missile, therefore averting catastrophe and actually says “Mission Accomplished.”    ……. HORRIBLE.  THEN, two minutes later, there they are again telling us about what just happened.

10)   WTF is up with Ving Rhames?  Did he HAVE to make an appearance? I mean, I would have rather seen him, little Tommy (only because he is Ethan Hunt after all) and Mr. Pegg thru the whole movie.

11)  This movie ends with a big round of laughs with everyone sitting around the table.  Yay, we can get on with our careers!  Bleh, no thanks.

I HATED this movie.

One of my imaginary BFFs is JJ Abrams. He helped produce the movie. JJ  … call me.  We should talk.

A quote from my husband.  “Garbage.”

A quote from me:    “Suck.”

This guy freaks me out.

18 Apr

 

Just sayin……

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing With The Stars – bah buh bah bah – dunna nuh!

11 Apr

Ok, out of about 13 seasons this is the first time I have EVER watched Dancing With The Stars.

Because this is the first time I’ve become interested in this show, I started youtubing past shows.  I wanted to share several of my favorite routines that I found.

But first.. I have a bone to pick.  I get really annoyed with reality television when celebrities on these competition shows like Dancing With The Stars get sent home and they cry. (Yea, I’m talking to you Sherri Shepherd.) Through their tears they say “being on this show has realized my biggest dream.”  Um. Really?  Seriously? Maybe I’m just envious because I wish I was rich and famous and could spend time learning to dance.. la la la. I sound jealous and it’s because I am …. No offense to Sherri, but I don’t think that being on DWTS is your biggest dream.  I don’t believe you.  Although, I can relate.  When I was a freshman in high school and the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding scandal broke before the Lillehammer Olympics, I begged my mom for weeks for me to start training to be a figure skater.  I was certain I could cut it. I’m glad she let me down easy because she reminded me later of how I broke my teacher’s arm on a school field trip to the Ice Rink (I was Ice Skating and I couldn’t stop. Don’t judge me! I yelled out to her to move… it wasn’t on purpose!  I swear!) I realized then and there, that  some dreams need to stay just as they are .. dreams.

Now, here are some of my favorite performances.  JR Martinez’s dance hit home and made me cry (everything makes me cry).

Karina and J.R.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMqsnXH8Tww

Maria and Derek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKcwIWaKF9s

Jennifer and Derek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FDrXBRA2dM&feature=relmfu

For old time sake, here is Nancy Kerrigan’s 94 Olympic performance.  She didn’t win the gold.  Oksana Baiul did.  I feel Nancy was robbed.  Eh, you win some, you lose some.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PscyRGo6rJQ

Jamie Lee Curtis + NCIS = ??????

10 Apr

The baby’s in bed and I got some chores done.  I need to fold laundry, but, I can’t bring myself to do it (I f’n HATE doing laundry).  I did clean the kitchen and finish washing all the clothes so my husband would have clean underwear tomorrow.  HEE HEE.  I cover all my bases.   I figured I’d fold everything and put it away tomorrow morning.

I’m watching tonight’s NCIS episode and so many things come to mind.  First off.  I ❤ ❤ ❤ NCIS. I even named my dogs after some of the characters– Gibbs and Ducky. THe creator, Donald Bellasario is a former Marine and knows the ins and outs really well.   This show is quite possibly my favorite show ever…. Up until this last season that is.  I have been emotionally invested in the characters of this show ever since the first season.

1)   The main character, Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon), plays a Grunt (Infantry Marine) and my husband was a Grunt.  We got through two tours to Iraq and one to Africa.  With the small knowledge of the Marine Corps that I have as well as my husband’s experiences, Mark Harmon does an EXCELLENT job portraying a former Infantry Marine.

2)   I love the other characters:  Abby, Ducky, DiZozzo, McGhee, Kate … I love them all. I cried when Kate got killed.

3)   I can relate to a lot of the moments they show between the Marine families.

Now, for all the love I have for this show and all the THANKS I have that it’s still on and has been renewed for yet ANOTHER season … I’m a little confused by Jamie Lee Curtis’ character as Gibbs’ love interest.  It doesn’t make sense and it even kind of wigs me out a bit.

I respect JLC.  I especially loved her in A Fish Called Wanda and of course she epitomizes terror in the original Halloween.  She has her place—I’m not saying she doesn’t.  HOWEVER, having her play Gibbs’ love interest is a stretch only because Gibbs’ is obsessed with RED HEADS… HELLO!! His first wife was a red head and she was the love of his life.

EWwww they just kissed.  It grosses me out. Again, nothing against JLC or Mark Harmon (God, I think he’s a sexy man).  But seriously, GROSS.

Back on topic—his first wife was a red head and defined every single woman we was with since then.  WHY then- WHYYYYYYYY—EEEEEEEEEEE did they bring in JLC?

It almost makes me not want to watch anymore. But I LOVE it regardless.  And I am loyal.  Cote de Pablo is such a badass.  Michael Weatherly is my movie trivia soulmate.  Sean Murray is my geek brotha from anotha motha. We’d so play WOW together.

Did you know that Sean Murray was in Hocus Pocus?  Yep.  The black cat who was really a boy – that was him.  Keep a look out next time.   Ok, I’m gonna attempt to finish this episode.  It’s quite painful.  **sigh**

 

**UPDATE**  WORST LINE EVER.  JLC just said “you be careful, I may have to show you what’s behind the curtain.”   OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!  PUH-LEEZE!!!  Donald Bellasario, we need to talk.  SERIOUSLY.  Call me.

New town, new season, new baby, and lots of tv.

10 Apr

I have a typical tale to tell. We recently moved to a new town, it’s spring time FINALLY,  I’m a new stay at home mom and it’s a new way of life.  I LOVE being a stay at home mom.  I’m not gonna lie.  It’s SO fun.  I had to bow out of work in my 8th month of pregnancy.  That last month ½ was INCREDIBLE.  NO WORK…Sleeping in… watching my programs on the tele, spending time with absolutely THE BEST husband, pedicures, shopping,  take naps with the pups….. then the baby came. Change but in the best way! I’m very lucky to be able to stay at home with my little one and watch ALL of the ways she changes every day.  Mostly, I’m really thankful that I don’t have to have anyone else watch her right now.  I think I would be a basket case if I had to leave her with ANYONE other than maybe my Mom or MIL/FIL.  No one is worthy to be in her presence as much as me or my husband.  She’s so fantastic. AND she is so smart. Seriously, I know parents are bias… but OMG, she is the smartest baby on the planet.

With this new lifestyle, I’m having to find a new “groove” in my day to day living.  I have ALWAYS held down a steady, good paying job.  The fact that I don’t have a “job” to drive to and execute every day is a different kind of living for me.  I’ve been trying to treat my new lifestyle/role as my job (because it IS a job—the best job).  I’m tackling lots of cooking, learning how to clean (sorry mom, it never took as a youngin’) and keep my child entertained.

In the midst of all my daily chores, I record A LOT of tv. Ever since I was introduced to the DVR, I have recorded and kept up with an impressive list of shows.  I have been saying FOR YEARS that I would be an excellent tv program critic.  I love my programs and I love a good story—especially when I am taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride.  I love even more awesome talent acting and Here are the shows I am currently watching/evaluating at the moment:

Once Upon a Time (NEW)

Desperate Housewives

GCB (NEW)

Smash (NEW)

Dancing With The Stars

NCIS

NCIS: Los Angeles

Unforgettable (NEW)

Scandal (New)

Law and Order: SVU

Fashion Star (NEW)

Celebrity Apprentice

The Client List (NEW)

Revenge (NEW)

BFF (NEW)

Up All Night (NEW)

Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (NEW)

Touch (NEW)

Awake (NEW)

Person of Interest (NEW)

The Mentalist

Grimm (NEW)

Missing (NEW)

The River (NEW)

Castle (NEW)

Long Island Medium

Cake Boss

Little People

Alcatraz (New)

Don’t Trust the B**** in Apt 23 (NEW)

American Horror Story (NEW)

Justified

Sons of Anarchy

Some may say I waste a lot of time on these shows, or some may say “you have a 6 mos old child, how can you spend your time watching all of those shows?”  Easy.  I’m a multi-tasker and I LOVE TV series—it’s like one big extra long movie.  Love it or hate it, it’s what I do.

Binky catastrophe in the nursery- gotta go!